Russia Threatens Military Measures Over U.S. Greenland Missile Defense Plans as New START Treaty Expires
A senior Russian official stated Moscow will consider military actions if the United States moves forward with deploying its Golden Dome missile defense program in Greenland. Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, made these remarks Tuesday during a visit to China, according to Russian state news agencies and reports by USA Today. The comments preceded Thursday’s expiration of the New START treaty, the last remaining bilateral nuclear arms control agreement between Washington and Moscow.
“This is a new moment, a new reality, we are ready for it,” Ryabkov said in Beijing. He did not specify what military response Russia might consider regarding the proposed missile defense system for Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, and appeared to dismiss the likelihood of an arms race. “I assure you, this is not going to happen,” he added.
Russia’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for further details. President Donald Trump had previously stated last month that he agreed on a “framework of a future deal” with NATO concerning Greenland that included discussions about the missile defense program. The agreement reportedly eased tensions involving Denmark, Greenland, European allies, and the Trump administration, which has expressed interest in gaining control of the territory.
Few specifics of the arrangement, which appeared to be reached without Denmark’s participation, have been made public. Trump indicated additional information would emerge as negotiations with Denmark and Greenland continue.
The New START treaty was signed in 2010 during the Obama administration when Dmitry Medvedev served as Russia’s president. It limits each country to 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads. Medvedev, now deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council, warned Russian state media Monday that the world should be “alarmed” if the treaty expires without replacement, stating such a development would leave the largest nuclear powers without limits on their arsenals for the first time since the early 1970s.
Putin has indicated willingness to observe the treaty’s limits for another year if Washington does the same, but Trump has not made that commitment and has expressed desires for a stronger agreement. Some analysts argue negotiating a replacement could be challenging. “New START’s end brings few benefits and lots of risks to the United States,” said Jennifer Kavanagh, director of military analysis at Defense Priorities, a Washington-based think tank. “An agreement with Russia is also likely a requirement to get China on board with nuclear arms control.”
Technical discussions between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland regarding an Arctic security agreement are ongoing. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the talks last week. The foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland recently formed a working group to address differences with the United States during meetings in Washington earlier this month with Vice President JD Vance and Rubio. This group was established following Trump’s repeated statements supporting U.S. control of Greenland, a Danish territory, citing the need to counter threats from Russia and China.
